Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A moat is located near Little Moat Farm to the south east of Great Chart. A farmhouse is located within the moat and the sturucture is of a timber-framed building. The moat is waterfilled and in good condition, approximately 7-8m in width, with a largely undisturbed platform. The location of the causeway is uncertain but outfall of feeder stream may be remains of former fishponds. The site is a scheduled area and this designation includes the house, moat and platform.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)

Full description

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(TQ 97434140) Moat (NAT) Moat Farm (NAT) (1) Moat Farm is a timber-framed building with some timbering visible in the east wall but the remainder refaced in the 18th century. It is still surrounded by a complete moat. (2) Moat Farm (name confirmed). A farmhouse, in good condition, as described above, and of little architectural interest. The moat is waterfilled and in good condition. (3) Now The Moat (nameplate) : GP AO/63/122/4. Published 25" survey revised. (4) 5272 Moat Farmhouse, Great Chart, Ashford Road, TQ 9741 24/22 Grade 2. Two parallel ranges, A C17 or earlier timber-framed building, with some timbering exposed in the east wall but otherwise refaced in the C18. Two storeys and attics. front stuccoed. Stringcourse. Tiled roof with 2 hipped dormers. Two casement windows and 2 small bays on the ground floor. Doorcase with flat hood over on brackets. The eastwall in which the timber-framing is visible in one place, is otherwisefaced with red brick with a tile-hung gable end. The complete moat round the house remains. (5) TQ 974414, The Moat, Great Chart listed in the County checklist of moated sites in Kent - December 1979. (6) Listed as a moated site. (7) Nearly square moat 7-8m in width, platform largely undisturbed. Location of causeway uncertain but outfall of feeder stream may be remains of former fishponds. Scheduled July 1990 including house, moat and platform.

From the National Heritage List for England:
.
The monument at The Moat comprises a well preserved nearly-square moat averaging 7m-8m in width enclosing a largely undisturbed island. Moated sites are generally seen as prestigious residences of the Lords of the Manor. The moat not only marked the high status of the occupier but also served to deter casual raiders and wild animals. Most moated sites were constructed between 1250 and 1350, and it is from this period that the moat at Great Chart is likely to date. No evidence of the buildings which are presumed to have stood on the island is visible on the ground, nor is the original position of the causeway known, but an expansion of the moat where the feeder stream outfalls may show the position of a former fishpond. The building which now stands on the moat island is 17th century or earlier, partly timber-framed and Listed Grade II. It is later than the moat and its original manor house however, and is excluded from the scheduling along with all other standing structures within the area of the scheduling, although the ground beneath each is included
Reasons for Designation
Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches, often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.

The Moat at Great Chart is of particular importance both because the moat remains largely intact and is wet throughout the year, providing favourable conditions for the survival of normally perishable forms of evidence, and because the island is undisturbed apart from the house so that the potential for the recovery of evidence of the organisation and development of the buildings on the site is high

Peter Rumley, 2004, The Moat, Great Chart, Ashford, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12915.

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> MHLG West Ashford RD 1887/11/A Oct 1960 35-36 (OS Card Reference). SKE47185.

<3> F1 ASP 15.12.61 (OS Card Reference). SKE42115.

<4> CFW 1 12 63 (OS Card Reference). SKE38942.

<5> DOE(HHR) Boro of Ashford Kent Oct 1980 106 (OS Card Reference). SKE40819.

<6> Moated Sites Res Gp 6 1979 47 (OS Card Reference). SKE47254.

<7> Arch Cant 93 1977 221 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE36146.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 94 SE 3 - December, 1961 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4773.

Sources and further reading

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